Improvement in car-couplings



B. W. THURMAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

No.175 ,524. Patenied March 28,1876.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN W. THURMAN, OF GORDONSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,524, dated March28, 1876 application filed March 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W. THUR MAN, ofGordonsville, in the county of Orange and State of Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of whichthe following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in railroad-carcouplings, its object being to provide an attachment for the same whichwill hold the coupling link in one bumper in proper position to enterthe opposite bumper, whether the cars are of the same or differentheights, and which will be automatically thrown back when the two carscome v together, andfall out of the way to release the coupling-linkwhen secured in the opposite bumper.

My invention consists of a metallic frame secured loosely at each sideto a rectangular rod or bar passing transversely through the bumper, orto rectangular projections on each side of the same, said frame beingadapted to rest upon removable pins which may be placed at differentheights at the sides of the bumper, for the purpose of adjusting theframe to hold the link at the desired elevation, and release it and fallout of the way when the two cars come, together, as more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention applied toa railroad-car Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; and Figs. 3 and 4, sideelevation and plan view, respectively,

of a modification of the same.

The letter A represents a car-bumper of ordinary construction, providedwith a couplingpin, B, and link 0, as usual. D'represents the frameforsupporting the coupling-link, secured loosely upon a rectangular rod orbar, E, passing transversely through the bumper, orupon rectangularprojections on each side of said bumper. The frame, in the presentinstance, consists of two peculiarly-shaped frames, at d, constructed ofwrought-iron or other metallic bars, embracing the .bumper A, andparallel with the same, united at their front ends by means of atransverse bar, (1, which forms the support for the coupling-link whenthe frame A is in proper position. The frames 01 d are contracted attheir rear ends in such manner that when drawn forward they'will closelyembrace the rectangular bar E,-and thereby be held in proper position tohold the transverse bar d in front of the bumper and directly under thecoupling-link, in order to support the said link properly to enter theopposite bumper when the two cars are brought together. In order toadapt the attachment to be used with cars having their bumpers arrangedat different heights I construct the the pins G G when the said frames(1 d are drawn forward in such manner that the frames will be supportedupon said,pins, and the pins are of such length that when the frame D isthrown back the enlarged space between the front ends of frames 01 01will enable them to clear said pins, releasing the frame D and allowingit to drop out of the way.

The operation of my coupling device will be readily understood from theforegoing description.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frame A is set under thelink to place it in proper position for coupling by elevating it anddrawing it forward until the contracted rear ends of the frames cl (1embrace the rootangular bar or projection E, and are held thereby insuch position as to bring the transverse bar 01 directly under thecoupling-link O and hold it in position until the opposite car comes inplace, when the frame D will be thrown backward, releasin g thecontracted rear ends of the frames cl d from the rectangular bar orprojections, allowing the attachment to swing under the bumper and outof the way.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the frame D is set to supportthe links by elerating it, as in the first instance, and then passing itbackward until the enlarged space between the frames d d enables thesaid frame D to pass clear of the pins G G, which have been previouslyplaced in the proper apertures of the series B F to secure the desiredelevation of the link. The frame A is then drawn forward, as before,until the frames 61 d come in position over the pins G G, by which theframe A is held until the bumper of the opposite car comes in place, bywhich said frame A is thrown back until it clears said pins, when itfalls out of the way, as in the first instance.

, The pins G G being removable and capable of being placed in any of theapertures F F, it is evident that the frame A may be arranged at anydesired elevation to adapt the device to the coupling ofcars ofdifferent heights, and the device may be employed with either thestraight or bent coupling-links in ordinary use, as may be desired.

The letter H represents a curved frame, the ends of which are secured tothe buffer at each side of the opening for the coupling-pin. Said framecurves backward at an angle, and is of such height that when the upperend of the coupling-pin is set in the upper end of the frame the lowerend of the coupling-pin will set in the aperture for the same, the frameholding the coupling-pin in an inclined position, so that when the twobufiers meet the pin will be thrown into a perpendicular position, andallow it to fall through the couplinglink and couple the cars.

It is evident that instead of being constructed in several pieces, asdescribed, the frame D may be formed in one piece by casting, forging,or otherwise.

As constructed, .my coupling device, after being set, obviates allnecessity of the railroad employs going between the cars to couple thesame an objection experienced in the ordinary couplings and attendedwith much dangerand, being simply an attachment which can be applied toany of the bumpers as ordinarily constructed, can be constructedandsecured to the same at comparatively little expense, withoutalteration to the said bumpers or the coupling pins or links employedwith the same.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. Incombination with a. car-bumper, the frame D, embracing said bumper,contracted at its rear ends, and secured upon the rectangular bar orprojection E, for supporting the coupling-link in position to enter theopposite bumper, and automatically releasing the same when the two carsmeet, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the car-bumper, the frame A, secured to therectangular bar or projection E, and the removable pins G G, said frameD being enlarged at its forward end for the purpose of clearing saidpins when forced backward, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the bufler, the curved frame H, for holding thecoupling-pin in position for coupling the cars, substantially as hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of the subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN W. THURMAN.

' Witnesses:

S. G. ATKINS, J. MAY.

